Knicks center Mitchell Robinson broke his right pinky finger earlier this week, and league sources say there’s no clear timetable for his return. The injury arrives just after New York reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 by sweeping the Clevel
By the time the Knicks turned their attention toward the NBA Finals, Mitchell Robinson’s hands had already become the story.
The New York center broke his right pinky finger earlier this week, with league sources saying there is no timetable for his return. How the injury happened remains unclear.
It’s the kind of uncertainty that changes everything on a roster built around rhythm. New York reached the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999 after sweeping the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. Now. the status of Robinson—whether he misses games or returns soon—could swing how the Knicks match up with whoever they face.
The Finals opponent could be the Oklahoma City Thunder or the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs have two 7-footers in Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet, while the Thunder counter with Chet Holmgren and Isaiah Hartenstein.
Robinson is more than a bench option. During the regular season. he ranked fourth in the NBA in offensive rebounds per game (4.2) and posted a league-best 20.1 offensive rebounding percentage. If he’s limited. New York loses a major engine for second chances—those quick possessions that can flip a close game.
His injury history adds weight to the concern. Robinson has dealt with physical setbacks throughout his career. playing just 31 games during the 2023-24 season and only 17 games during the 2024-25 season due to an ankle injury. Last season. he was available for the playoffs and played a big part in New York’s first Eastern Conference finals appearance in 25 years. powered by his offensive rebounding and defense.
This season, he returned to more regular availability, playing 60 games for the first time since the 2021-22 campaign. The Knicks had him on an injury management plan that included not using him in back-to-back games, with the hope he would be fresh for the playoffs.
While Robinson has yet to miss a game in the postseason, his minutes have declined. One reason is obvious even without a headline: free throws. He’s making just 30.2 percent of his shots from the charity stripe, and teams are intentionally fouling him to disrupt New York’s high-powered offense.
With Robinson now dealing with a broken right pinky finger, New York’s rotation has a reminder that depth matters. Second-year big man Ariel Hukporti, who logged just 498 minutes during the regular season, is the Knicks’ third-string center.
The road to the Finals already demanded something from this group—confidence, health, and control. With a fractured finger and no clear return date. the question for the Knicks isn’t only whether Robinson can play. It’s whether the rest of their playbook can hold together if one of their most productive parts is taken out before the series even begins.
Mitchell Robinson Knicks right pinky finger NBA Finals Cleveland Cavaliers Oklahoma City Thunder San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama Luke Kornet Chet Holmgren Isaiah Hartenstein offensive rebounds